Hancock's words were absolute commands on Amazon Lily.
No matter how tyrannical she became, a single flirtatious glance or a sweet pout would immediately earn her everyone's forgiveness.
All personalities are shaped by circumstances.
To put it bluntly, Hancock's spoiled temper was the result of being pampered by her people…
Takumi glanced at his gourd of wine.
From what Lila had described earlier, it was obvious that the wine she had left in the ship's cabin that morning was the same bottle intended for Hancock.
And, he had already drunk it…
However, he had to admit, the wine offered to the Empress did taste pretty good.
At the coliseum.
The two executioners exchanged glances.
Everyone around them fell silent, understanding well that there was no way to change Hancock's mind.
After all, stealing an offering meant for Hancock was a grave offense. Being sentenced to death was something Lila and Brew had brought upon themselves.
Hancock's voice was cold, "Begin."
The executioners were just about to move when, suddenly, an overwhelming force crashed down upon them. In the blink of an eye, everyone, including Brew and Lila, who were about to be executed, fainted.
Even the island's elite guards were not spared.
Only Hancock and her two sisters, along with a large-faced old woman hidden in the crowd, remained conscious.
"Is this… Conqueror's Haki?" Hancock's sisters were visibly shaken, their bodies buckling under the pressure as they collapsed to the ground.
Hancock herself looked equally grim.
There was no need to ask who was responsible. She already knew.
Though she remained seated on her throne, even if she were standing, she wouldn't collapse like her sisters. Yet, just like before, she was utterly unable to move.
"Damn it, you again, Takumi!" Hancock shouted angrily.
Takumi appeared beside her in a flash, using Moonwalk to step through the air.
"You promised you wouldn't show yourself to anyone else!" Hancock fumed.
Takumi responded calmly, "No one can see me except you three sisters and that old woman."
As he spoke, Takumi glanced at the short elderly woman in the audience, holding a snake-shaped cane.
This old lady was Gloriosa, the former, former, former queen of Amazon Lily, and one of the few who knew Hancock's secret.
"What do you want?" Hancock asked, her expression dark.
Takumi pointed to Lila and Brew, "Release them."
"Impossible!" Hancock snapped. "They've committed a crime, and they must be punished!"
Suddenly, as if struck by an idea, Hancock sneered, "Heh, didn't you say you wouldn't show yourself in front of my people? Yet here you are, threatening me for the sake of two criminals. Seems like you've already met them. Men truly are liars."
Takumi was speechless for a moment before replying, "I didn't meet them. That girl sought me out."
Hancock's expression froze for a moment, then she spoke in an annoyed tone, "So, she gave you the offering that was meant for me?"
"Sister…" Sandersonia, who was barely supporting herself with her hands on the ground, weakly said, "I can't hold on much longer…"
Marigold, sweating profusely, added, "Me neither… it's unbearable…"
Hancock glanced at her two sisters, her fists tightening before she relented, "Fine. I'll spare those two. But first, release Marigold and Sandersonia."
With a mere thought, Takumi withdrew his Conqueror's Haki.
At the same time, Gloriosa hurriedly rushed onto the arena, sternly asking, "What's going on with this boy? Why is a man on the island?"
More importantly, it seemed even Hancock couldn't do anything about him. That confused Gloriosa—how could a man not be interested in Hancock?
Unbelievable!
But this wasn't the time to focus on that.
Amazon Lily was a place where men were strictly forbidden. Even the World Government wasn't allowed to enter, so this man had already violated a sacred rule!
Gloriosa pointed her snake-shaped cane at Takumi, her tone sharp, "Boy, this isn't a place for you."
Even though she knew his strength surpassed hers, she wasn't afraid.
"Granny Gloriosa…" Sandersonia, still struggling on the ground, said with difficulty, "His Conqueror's Haki surpasses my sister's. We're no match for him…"
Gloriosa, known as Granny Gloriosa on the island, didn't back down. "So what? Even if he's powerful, he can't be allowed to break Amazon Lily's long-standing rule. Not even the World Government can enter here. So why should this boy be allowed? Does he think he's above even the World Government?"
As soon as she said this, Sandersonia awkwardly added, "Well… he doesn't fear them…"
"Huh?" Granny Gloriosa looked at Sandersonia in disbelief. "What did you say?"
Sandersonia didn't respond, merely glancing over at Hancock.
Granny Gloriosa turned her gaze toward Hancock and asked, "What's going on?"
Hancock frowned slightly and replied coldly, "He killed a Celestial Dragon."
Granny Gloriosa froze, almost stumbling. "What? Are you kidding? He's so young! How could he kill a Celestial Dragon under the Navy's watch?"
"It's true," Marigold said, handing the newspaper she had been carrying to Granny Gloriosa.
Granny Gloriosa examined it, looking at the headline featuring Takumi. She glanced between the newspaper photo and the real Takumi several times before stepping back in shock. "You… you really killed a Celestial Dragon! Aren't you afraid of the World Government hunting you to the ends of the earth?"
"If he were afraid, he wouldn't have killed a Celestial Dragon," Hancock said, her gaze fixed on Takumi. "I'll release those two who showed me disrespect, and I'll lift the petrification from your companion. But you must leave Amazon Lily immediately and promise never to return."
Takumi remained silent.
He did want to leave. The island was small and filled with women who didn't understand much. It was… dull.
However, he hadn't completed a single task yet, and he had no clues on how to proceed. How could he leave? Even though there were no penalties for failing to complete missions, without completing this one, he wouldn't unlock the next island's mission, which was rather frustrating.
As Takumi was thinking this, the system's notification sounded in his mind.
[Ding! You have earned Granny Gloriosa's acknowledgment. Sign-in progress +20%. Current total progress: 30%. Reward: Observation Haki level +1. Current Observation Haki level: Lv6.]
Suddenly, an overwhelming influx of noise—heartbeats, breathing—flooded Takumi's mind.
His head felt like it was about to explode.
Fortunately, the feeling only lasted a moment, and his endurance was enough to get through it with just a furrowed brow. But it still left him feeling uncomfortable…
Hancock noticed Takumi's expression and assumed he was refusing her offer. "Takumi, don't push your luck! My concession is not an excuse for you to act even more arrogantly!"
"You're so annoying," Takumi said in irritation.
Those four simple words hit Hancock like a bolt of lightning, causing her to stumble back half a step in shock.
Marigold and Sandersonia quickly asked, "Sister, are you okay?"
Hancock's face twisted with frustration as she muttered, "You think I'm annoying? No one in the world can refuse my beauty. It must be an illusion! Yes, I must have misheard…"
************
Please support me on Ko-fi at ko-fi. com/gered to read up to chapter 263!